2022年12月17日

TribLIVE的每日和每周電子郵件時事通訊提供你想要的新聞和你需要的信息，直接到你的收件箱。鬆鼠山的一個前保齡球館大約半年後將成為UpStreet的第一家實體店，UpStreet是一家為匹茲堡地區的青少年和年輕人(12-22歲)提供心理健康服務的實體。美國疾病控製與預防中心(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)的數據顯示，在美國，20%的年輕人存在心理健康問題。根據美國國家心理健康研究所的數據，自殺是他們死亡的第二大原因。猶太家庭和社區服務組織(JFCS)表示，“我們的年輕人正處於危機之中”，於2020年10月推出了UpStreet (www.upstreetpgh.org)，作為年輕人獲得免費心理健康服務的虛擬方式。UpStreet的臨床協調員艾琳·巴爾(Erin Barr)說，心理健康專業人士對他們所看到的並不感到驚訝。“我們注意到對治療服務的需求在增加。然後你把大流行帶來的所有壓力和隔離都放在了最重要的地方，它隻是把一切都浮出了水麵，”巴爾說。“問題在於在高中和大學取得成功的壓力，以及在那之後你的生活要做什麼。“社交媒體增加了很多壓力，總是把自己和別人比較。 And then you have a kid who may or may not already be struggling with depression and anxiety, and all of those pressures balloon that into something much bigger.” Over the past two years, Jewish Family and Community Services says hundreds of young adults and their parents have received online support, helping teens reduce anxiety, deal with stress and prevent problems from becoming a crisis. However, Barr believes a clinical setting is important. Last week ground was broken for an UpStreet location in Squirrel Hill at the former Forward Lanes building at 5844 Forward Ave., just down the street from Taylor Allderdice High School. Artists renderings of the new space depict an ultra-modern and colorful area with large sofas and throw pillows, chairs and desks. Plans call for the space to open next summer. “You can’t replace being in the same room with somebody and feeling that physical connection,” Barr said. “And from a therapist’s perspective, it’s a lot about body language and reading facial cues and seeing how they are sitting when they come in. This gives us an opportunity to get to know them better. You can see things in person that you can’t see as well on a video call.” Barr said students don’t need to schedule an appointment, they don’t need insurance and they don’t need to pay for it. “So, hopefully we’ll be utilized a lot by the students who are struggling and who don’t feel ready to go home yet. We’re trying to make it feel like a place where a kid would want to come.” Barr said virtual services will still be available because they reach kids that won’t be able to get to Squirrel Hill. They have many therapy clients that live in Westmoreland, Butler, Beaver and Fayette counties. Paul Guggenheimer is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Paul at pguggenheimer@triblive.com . Categories:Allegheny | Local | Pittsburgh